Calafell to use drones to monitor private pools during drought

The southern town of Calafell will use drones to monitor private pools during the drought that Catalonia is facing.

Calafell entered the drought alert phase some weeks ago, therefore the city council chose to forbid filling private pools. 

From that moment, different drones flew across the city. Those results will be compared with a second round of recordings that the drones have done, in order to check if there are any changes.

Locals who fill their pools can be subject to fines ranging from €750 to €1,500. Nevertheless, the town hall stated that their aim "is not to sanction, but to raise awareness" of drought issues. 

Aron Marcos Fernández, ecology councilor in Calafell, says that most of the 2,500 pools in the city are private houses, which are the most affected by the new drought law

Calafell's councilperson highlights that "people's intimacy will be respected, as we only look for those who are misusing water resources".

The town hall wants to avoid the identification of anyone who may appear, so faces are pixeled and recordings are made at 7 am to reduce the probability of neighbors appearing.